Hidden hibernating pipistrelles mean the building cannot be knocked down as planned and must wait for the protected animals to awake in spring, the supermarket giant has told “bitterly disappointed” MP Philip Davies.

Last year, Sainsbury’s said it would level the towering block to create a more marketable level site which it would sell to any business – even rival supermarkets.

The demolition was scheduled to begin in January after Bingley shops had made the most of Christmas trading.

But when Mr Davies requested an update on progress, he said he was stunned to learn of the latest problem.

He said: “I have been chasing up Sainsbury’s to get on with demolishing the old B&B site as they pledged, and so I was bitterly disappointed to hear from them that the work was being delayed due to bats.

“I would not like there to be any suspicion that Sainsbury’s are dragging their feet and I will also be asking Bradford Council to work with Sainsbury’s to help ensure that the work is carried out, within the law, at the earliest opportunity”

A spokesman for Sainsbury’s explained the need to let sleeping bats lie.

“We were made aware of evidence of bat activity had been found suggesting that they are hibernating, so we can’t start anything to March or April at the earliest,” she said.

“In the meantime our experts will go in and try to find out more about the bat activity, which has basically closed everything down until they wake up,” she said.

Bradford bat expert Ian Butterfield said hibernating bats had to be taken seriously as they are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

And he explained how Sainsbury’s might only have a brief time to demolish the controversial building – due to the sex life of bats: “The female bats feed heavily in autumn, then mate in October before hibernating. They emerge in April, then the females go into ‘maternity roost” in June, so there is only that window of opportunity,” Mr Butterfield said.

It's amazing the way developers will follow the rules when it suits them. If these bats were roosting in a tree on a green field development there wouldn't be any problems getting rid of them.

It's amazing the way developers will follow the rules when it suits them. If these bats were roosting in a tree on a green field development there wouldn't be any problems getting rid of them.sorrow&anger

It's amazing the way developers will follow the rules when it suits them. If these bats were roosting in a tree on a green field development there wouldn't be any problems getting rid of them.

Score: 8

Albion.
4:32pm Fri 31 Jan 14

sorrow&anger wrote…

It's amazing the way developers will follow the rules when it suits them. If these bats were roosting in a tree on a green field development there wouldn't be any problems getting rid of them.

The sooner they knock it down the sooner they can sell the land.

[quote][p][bold]sorrow&anger[/bold] wrote:
It's amazing the way developers will follow the rules when it suits them. If these bats were roosting in a tree on a green field development there wouldn't be any problems getting rid of them.[/p][/quote]The sooner they knock it down the sooner they can sell the land.Albion.

sorrow&anger wrote…

It's amazing the way developers will follow the rules when it suits them. If these bats were roosting in a tree on a green field development there wouldn't be any problems getting rid of them.

The sooner they knock it down the sooner they can sell the land.

Score: 3

YubYub
5:24pm Fri 31 Jan 14

Given that the work on Ireland Bridge was delayed for the same reason and the building is a few 100 yards up the road it's not that difficult to believe it to be true.

Given that the work on Ireland Bridge was delayed for the same reason and the building is a few 100 yards up the road it's not that difficult to believe it to be true.YubYub

Given that the work on Ireland Bridge was delayed for the same reason and the building is a few 100 yards up the road it's not that difficult to believe it to be true.

Score: 5

awasteoftime
5:28pm Fri 31 Jan 14

This sounds as daft as the environment agency in Somerset spending over £20m setting up a wildlife centre but failing to dredge the rivers to save farmers and residents. How many bats are there, 2/3. Surely with a bit of care they could be relocated into a nice dark area, what about under Ireland Bridge where they used to be. These bats also delayed work on the bridge a few years ago. I do not wish to hurt wildlife but we need to get matters into perspective.

This sounds as daft as the environment agency in Somerset spending over £20m setting up a wildlife centre but failing to dredge the rivers to save farmers and residents. How many bats are there, 2/3. Surely with a bit of care they could be relocated into a nice dark area, what about under Ireland Bridge where they used to be. These bats also delayed work on the bridge a few years ago. I do not wish to hurt wildlife but we need to get matters into perspective.awasteoftime

This sounds as daft as the environment agency in Somerset spending over £20m setting up a wildlife centre but failing to dredge the rivers to save farmers and residents. How many bats are there, 2/3. Surely with a bit of care they could be relocated into a nice dark area, what about under Ireland Bridge where they used to be. These bats also delayed work on the bridge a few years ago. I do not wish to hurt wildlife but we need to get matters into perspective.

Score: 1

cockadoodledo
6:20pm Fri 31 Jan 14

Trouble is also, when they do eventually pull
The building down, then sell the site, does the planning process start all over again? Look how long. That takes! Could be years!

t.

Trouble is also, when they do eventually pull
The building down, then sell the site, does the planning process start all over again? Look how long. That takes! Could be years!
t.cockadoodledo

Trouble is also, when they do eventually pull
The building down, then sell the site, does the planning process start all over again? Look how long. That takes! Could be years!

t.

Score: 1

Albion.
7:33pm Fri 31 Jan 14

cockadoodledo wrote…

Trouble is also, when they do eventually pull
The building down, then sell the site, does the planning process start all over again? Look how long. That takes! Could be years!

t.

Depends who buys it and what their plans are.

[quote][p][bold]cockadoodledo[/bold] wrote:
Trouble is also, when they do eventually pull
The building down, then sell the site, does the planning process start all over again? Look how long. That takes! Could be years!
t.[/p][/quote]Depends who buys it and what their plans are.Albion.

cockadoodledo wrote…

Trouble is also, when they do eventually pull
The building down, then sell the site, does the planning process start all over again? Look how long. That takes! Could be years!

t.

Depends who buys it and what their plans are.

Score: 1

G_Firth
1:27am Sat 1 Feb 14

Such a shame that eventually such an Iconic building will vanish for good that could of served the community of Bingley as a Hotel/Conference center

Such a shame that eventually such an Iconic building will vanish for good that could of served the community of Bingley as a Hotel/Conference centerG_Firth

Such a shame that eventually such an Iconic building will vanish for good that could of served the community of Bingley as a Hotel/Conference center

Score: 0

YubYub
8:51am Sat 1 Feb 14

G_Firth wrote…

Such a shame that eventually such an Iconic building will vanish for good that could of served the community of Bingley as a Hotel/Conference center

I've heard people in their seventies that have lived in the area their entire lives state that the thing was a monstrous eyesore from day one so losing it won't do any harm in that respect.

Bingley already has three hotels and one of those at least is used for as a conference centRE..

[quote][p][bold]G_Firth[/bold] wrote:
Such a shame that eventually such an Iconic building will vanish for good that could of served the community of Bingley as a Hotel/Conference center[/p][/quote]I've heard people in their seventies that have lived in the area their entire lives state that the thing was a monstrous eyesore from day one so losing it won't do any harm in that respect.
Bingley already has three hotels and one of those at least is used for as a conference centRE..YubYub

G_Firth wrote…

Such a shame that eventually such an Iconic building will vanish for good that could of served the community of Bingley as a Hotel/Conference center

I've heard people in their seventies that have lived in the area their entire lives state that the thing was a monstrous eyesore from day one so losing it won't do any harm in that respect.

Bingley already has three hotels and one of those at least is used for as a conference centRE..

Ipsoregulated

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